The National Football League today announced the five finalists for the 2011 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award.

2011 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

ANDY DALTON Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals

VON MILLER Linebacker Denver Broncos

CAM NEWTON Quarterback Carolina Panthers

PATRICK PETERSON Cornerback/Punt Returner Arizona Cardinals

ALDON SMITH Linebacker San Francisco 49ers

Fans can vote for one of these five players on www.nfl.com/rookies through 9:00 PM EST on Tuesday, January 31 to determine the 2011 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

The winner will be presented the 2011 PEPSI NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR award in Indianapolis, the site of Super Bowl XLVI, at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on February 4, 9-11 p.m. EST on NBC.

The five finalists were selected for their outstanding performances throughout the 2011 NFL season. Each week, five nominees were chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.

A closer look at the finalists:

ANDY DALTON (Cincinnati Bengals) — Dalton started all 16 games for the Bengals and led Cincinnati to a 9-7 record and a Wild Card berth in the AFC playoffs. Dalton completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 3,398 yards and 20 touchdowns. Dalton is one of only five rookie quarterbacks to throw for 20 touchdowns in a season, and is also one of only five rookie quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards or more in a season. Dalton, who attended Texas Christian University, was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week six times, winning twice.
VON MILLER (Denver Broncos) — Miller, a Texas A&M product, started all 15 games he played and tied Denver’s single-season rookie sack record with a team-high 11.5 sacks, placing him second among all rookies in 2011 and tied for third overall in the AFC. He was one of six NFL players to record a half sack in at least 10 games. He totaled 64 tackles (50 solo) and led the team with 19 tackles for a loss in addition to ranking second on the club with two forced fumbles. He was selected as a starting outside linebacker for the AFC squad for the 2012 Pro Bowl. The second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Miller was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week three times.
CAM NEWTON (Carolina Panthers) — Newton set the record for most passing yards by a rookie in a season (4,051), surpassing PEYTON MANNING’s previous record of 3,739 in 1998. He set the single-season quarterback rushing touchdown record with 14. He is the first rookie to throw and rush for 10 touchdowns in the same season, and only the second player to pass for more than 20 touchdowns and rush for more than 10 touchdowns in a season. He is the first player in NFL history with more than 4,000 passing yards, 500 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same year. Newton, who started all 16 games, finished his first season with a 60.0 completion percentage and 21 touchdowns. He amassed an additional 706 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. The Auburn product was the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week 11 times, winning three times.
PATRICK PETERSON (Arizona Cardinals) — Peterson started all 16 games for the Cardinals in 2011. He finished first in the NFL in punt return yards and second in punt return average. His four punt return touchdowns are tied for the most in a single season in NFL history. As a cornerback, Peterson recorded 64 tackles, including 59 solo stops. He tallied 13 passes defensed, two interceptions and one sack. Peterson was named to the NFC’s Pro Bowl squad as the team’s kick returner. Peterson, who played collegiately at Louisiana State University, was nominated three times for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week.
ALDON SMITH (San Francisco 49ers) — Smith, the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Missouri, played in all 16 games for the 49ers. Smith tallied 14 sacks on the season, placing him in a tie for fifth among all NFL defenders. He finished the season just a half sack short of the single season rookie record. On the year, he also added 37 stops, including 31 solo tackles, four passes defensed, two fumbles forced, one fumble recovered and a safety. Smith was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week three times, winning the award twice.

BlitzburghRockCity

01-07-2012, 11:23 AM

Given that this is a QB and offense type of league, I'm thinking Cam Newton has this one.

jnes1216

01-08-2012, 12:16 AM

Yea, definitely this one goes to Cam.

On another note, Patrick Peterson, Von Miller or Pierre-Paul for defensive ROY is a better argument.

--- Added 1/7/2012 at 11:16 PM ---

sorry Pierre-Paul is in his second year, my bad! great year though....

JensK

01-08-2012, 11:02 AM

It is most likely going to be Cam Newton, but in my opinion is should have been Von Miller. The guy have been outstanding, especially seeing that many (including myself) thought he would be a bad fit in Denver's system. It is remarkable that the games the lost in which Tebow started, Von Miller was out with an injury.

BlitzburghRockCity

01-08-2012, 02:51 PM

Had Von Miller been able to stay healthy the latter part of the year he'd probably have a better shot.